This fresh and colorful vegan BBQ Chickpea Salad is so flavorful & satisfying! It's tossed with a homemade avocado ranch dressing, then topped with warm, saucy BBQ chickpeas. (Vegan, gluten-free, oil-free.)
This is my vegan version of the classic BBQ Chicken Salad. It's so easy, healthy, and most of all delicious!
I originally created & posted this recipe in early 2015, and still love it just as much.
Plus it's so simple to assemble! We chop up crisp, colorful veggies and toss them in a homemade avocado ranch dressing. Then top it with warm, saucy BBQ chickpeas. (Yes!)
The flavors come together so nicely, plus it's easy to customize with your favorite veggies. It's great for lunch, dinner, take-along lunches, meal prep, etc.
Ingredients for BBQ Chickpea Salad
For this recipe you'll toss together in a large bowl:
- Garbanzo beans (chickpeas): These are perfect for a plant-based chicken replacement. Chickpeas have a tender, hearty texture and are rich in plant-based protein and fiber. They're absolutely delicious simmered in BBQ sauce!
- BBQ sauce: Use your own favorite BBQ sauce for this recipe. Either homemade or store bought works great. (For a homemade version, try this easy homemade BBQ Sauce.)
- Romaine lettuce: You'll need one large head romaine, or about 5-6 cups chopped. I like romaine best, but you can substitute other baby greens, kale, spinach, or lettuce instead.
- Cooked sweet corn: You can either use cooked fresh, canned, frozen, or fire-roasted.
- Grape tomatoes: Or cherry tomato, roma tomato, plum tomato, or other garden tomatoes. I like grape tomatoes best in this recipe because they have a rich, sweet flavor.
- Shredded carrots: Either buy pre-shredded carrots in the produce section for convenience, or you can shred/grate your own.
- Green onion (scallion): Or you can use red onion for a stronger flavor.
- Ranch dressing: I use my homemade vegan Avocado Ranch Dressing for this recipe. It's made with ingredients like fresh herbs, vinegar, lemon juice, dairy-free milk, and creamy avocado. But if you'd like a more classic version, try this Vegan Ranch Dressing (or simply use your own favorite ranch dressing)!
Customizing
Veggies: Add other vegetables like cucumber, shredded red cabbage, sugar snap peas, bell pepper, diced avocado, or whatever else sounds good.
Fresh herbs: For even more flavor, include herbs like fresh parsley, cilantro, basil, dill, or chives to taste.
Storing
Store the dressing, BBQ chickpeas, and salad in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator. (This helps it stay fresh & crisp.) Then toss it together when ready to serve. If stored separately, I find it keeps for about 3-4 days.
For more inspiration, also browse all vegan salad recipes or chickpea recipes.
BBQ Chickpea Salad with Avocado Ranch
Ingredients
For the BBQ chickpeas:
- 15 oz. can chickpeas
- 2/3 cup BBQ sauce
For the salad:
- 1 large head romaine (about 5-6 cups chopped)
- 1 cup sweet corn, cooked
- 1 1/2 cups grape tomatoes
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 2-3 green onions
- 1 cup Avocado Ranch Dressing
Instructions
- Make the dressing: Or you can prepare this in advance and store in the fridge until ready.
- Make the BBQ chickpeas: Rinse and drain chickpeas. In a skillet over medium-low heat, add chickpeas and BBQ sauce. Simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. (Feel free to add a splash of vegetable broth or water to slightly thin the sauce if desired.)
- Prepare salad: Meanwhile, chop the romaine, tomatoes, and green onion. Place in a bowl. Add corn and carrots. Toss to combine.
- Assemble: When ready to assemble, toss salad with desired amount of dressing, then top with warm BBQ chickpeas.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving (Estimate)
Sodium content: This is omitted as I cannot provide an accurate number. I encourage you to calculate your own to provide a much more precise reading based on the exact ingredients, brands, and amounts you're using.
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Jennifer says
This was a very tasty salad! The flavours were very complimentary to each other… and the dressing!! Wow! So good! Thanks for sharing this delicious recipe!
BTW, do you happen to have a homemade bbq sauce recipe?
Kaitlin says
So great to hear you enjoyed the flavors in this one, Jennifer! I don't have a BBQ sauce recipe posted yet, although I've been testing many and just haven't landed on my favorite to share. Hopefully I'll get one up soon as it's been high on my priority list. (Update: My BBQ sauce is now linked in the recipe!)
Clarissa says
Thank you for this recipe! It was delicious. I added the juice from half of a lime to the dressing and it was so good. The salad was also great with a sprinkle of shredded cheese.
Kaitlin says
Hi Clarissa! That's awesome to hear, and great call with the lime juice in the dressing and added cheese! Thanks so much for sharing your kind and helpful feedback. 🙂
Jessica says
This is so fresh, flavorful, and filling. Thank you for sharing!
Kaitlin says
Great to hear you enjoyed!
Victoria says
My family is half vegetarian and half meat-eaters. I made this with the chickpeas and bbq chicken (for those who eat chicken). Everyone LOVED it and said we didn't even need the chicken. Getting added to the recipe rotation for sure! Thank You!
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer says
That's great! Thanks for sharing!
Tasha Willett says
I just made this for lunch and it was awesome! I had all the ingredients except tomatoes but I will add those in next time. This recipe is a keeper.
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer says
Thanks for sharing your kind feedback!
Melissa Dressely says
Very easy to make, and I had most of the ingredients on hand. Delicious!!! The dressing is creamy and thick.
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer says
Wonderful to hear you enjoyed, Melissa!
Carmen says
Just made this for lunch...so good!
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer says
Awesome, Carmen! Thanks for sharing!
Everyday Foodie says
Made this earlier this week and had the leftovers tonight (each part stored separately) and it's super yummy!
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer says
Great idea! Thanks for sharing!
JM says
Loved it! Thank you for restoring our faith in plant-based eating! (We started eating this way just over a month ago and have had a lot of "ok" meals.)
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer says
Thank you! So glad to hear you enjoyed it. Hope you find some other recipes you love just as much!
Gina Holmes says
This was excellent. Looking forward to trying many more of your recipes.
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer says
Wonderful, thanks for the kind feedback!
Mandy says
I made this for dinner the other night and my husband and I gobbled it up. Another great recipe! Thank you! Your recipes have consistently been some of our favorite vegetarian/vegan meals.
Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer says
That's so great to hear! Thank you!